Method and system for a merchandise checkout system

Abstract

A method and system for a merchandise checkout system utilizes a remote scanning device, a shopping cart and bags for allowing a purchaser to buy merchandise unassisted by store personnel. The remote scanning device reads product identity information from coded levels on products chosen by the purchaser and sends the information to a central processor. The central processor has a memory, which indexes price information and weight for each product based on the product identity information. The central processor sends an accumulated price and weight transaction to the remote scanning device for the purchaser's use. The product identity information on the products further include a security tag device which is deactivated by the remote scanning device. The purchaser upon completion of their purchases takes their shopping cart to a security station for weighing in on a scale wherein an actual combined weight of the shopping cart, bags and products is compared to a predicted weight determined by the central processor and generating a notification signal if a discrepancy occurs. The security station further verifies that the security tag devices have been deactivated and also generates a notification signal. The purchaser next goes to a payment checkout terminal coupled to the central processor, wherein the payment checkout terminal effects financial transactions including acceptance of payment for transactions initiated by the remote scanning device, and the payment checkout terminal is operable by store personnel only.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for a merchandise(r) checkout system comprising: 
       providing a purchaser with a remote scanning device for scanning a product tag included on each of a plurality of products, said product tag including a security tag device and product identity information associated with one of said plurality of products to which said product tag is affixed;  
       scanning said product tag for each of said plurality of products utilizing said remote scanning device;  
       reading said product identity information included within said product tag for said one of said plurality of products and deactivating said security tag device generally simultaneously with said reading during said scanning utilizing said remote scanning device, said security tag device capable of being deactivated only in response to said product identity information being read;  
       wirelessly transmitting said product identity information to a computer system, said computer system having a price information corresponding to said product identity information, said computer system calculating said price information from each of said product identity information to accumulate a total; and  
       providing said total to one of a plurality of terminals when said purchaser is finished.  
     
     
       2. The method for a merchandise checkout system according to claim  1 , further comprising the step of providing said remote scanning device to said purchaser at a check-in station positioned near an entrance of said checkout system for accepting discount coupons from said purchaser and transferring information on said coupons to said computer system for adjusting said price information for use with said remote scanning device. 
     
     
       3. The method for a merchandise checkout system according to claim  2 , further comprising the steps of: 
       wirelessly transmitting from said remote scanning device to said computer system, said computer system having a radio frequency (RF) transceiver and said remote scanning device also having said radio frequency (RF) transceiver wherein when said purchaser reads said product identity information, said product identity information is transmitted to and received by said computer system, and  
       calculating said price information in association with said received product identity information by said computer system producing a new total price wherein said new total price is transmitted to and received by said remote scanning device and displayed to said purchaser.  
     
     
       4. The method for a merchandise checkout system according to claim  3 , further comprising the step of deactivating said security tag device utilizing said remote scanning device when reading said product identity information on products chosen by said purchaser. 
     
     
       5. The method for a merchandise checkout system according to claim  4 , further comprising the step of positioning at least one payment checkout terminal near an exit of said checkout system, and coupling said payment checkout terminal in data communication with said computer system, said payment checkout terminal being operable to effect financial transactions including acceptance of payment for transactions initiated by said remote scanning device. 
     
     
       6. The method for a merchandise checkout system according to claim  5 , further comprising the step of positioning at least one return station in said checkout system for receiving already read products by said purchaser and updating said remote scanning device with said computer system to reflect an adjusted price total. 
     
     
       7. The method for a merchandise checkout system according to claim  3 , further comprising the steps of: 
       positioning a security station near an exit of said checkout system, determining an actual combined total weight of said shopping cart containing said products purchased during a purchase transaction by said remote scanning device, wherein said computer system including an actual weight of said shopping cart in memory; and  
       comparing said actual combined total weight of said shopping cart with a predicted total weight determined by said computer system and generating a notification signal when said actual total weight is not within a predetermined range of said predicted total weight for said transaction.  
     
     
       8. The method for a merchandise checkout system according to claim  5 , further comprising the step of positioning a security station near an exit of said checkout system, and generating a notification signal by a security tag detection device if at least one item in said shopping cart has not been deactivated by said remote scanning device. 
     
     
       9. The method for a merchandise checkout system according to claim  3 , further comprising the step of positioning first dispensers holding produce bags and weight scales and second dispensers for generating self-adhesive bar coded labels positioned next to produce stands, said bar coded labels indicative of a product code corresponding to a produce wherein said self-adhesive bar coded labels are printed and dispensed after said produce is placed and weighed in said produce bags and said self-adhesive bar coded labels are attached to said produce bags and scanned by said remote scanning device. 
     
     
       10. A system for merchandise checkout comprising: 
       means for remotely scanning a product tag included on each of a plurality of products chosen by a purchaser, said product tag including a security tag device and product identity information associated with one of said plurality of products to which said product tag is affixed;  
       means for reading said product information included within said product tag for said one of said plurality of products and for deactivating said security tag device generally simultaneously with said reading during said scanning, said security tag device capable of being deactivated only in response to said product identity information being read;  
       means for wirelessly transmitting said product identity information to a computer system having a memory indexing price information with said product identity information to accumulate a transaction total from a series of products presented for purchase; and  
       means for providing said transaction total to one or a plurality of check-out terminals in response to a presence of said purchaser wherein a payment amount is presented.  
     
     
       11. The system for merchandise checkout according to claim  10 , further comprising means for accepting discount coupons from said purchaser and transferring information on said coupons to said computer system for adjusting said indexing price information delivered to said purchaser. 
     
     
       12. The system for merchandise checkout according to claim  10 , further comprising means for notifying said purchaser that a successful scan of said product identity information and deactivation of a security tag device has been accomplished. 
     
     
       13. The system for a merchandise checkout according to claim  10 , wherein said means for scanning further comprises said computer system having a radio frequency (RF) transceiver and a remote scanning device also having said radio frequency (RF) transceiver wherein when said purchaser scans said product identity information said product identity information is transmitted to and received by said computer system for calculating a new total price wherein said new total price is transmitted to and received by said remote scanning device and displayed to said purchaser. 
     
     
       14. The system for merchandise checkout according to claim  13 , further comprising means for generating a notification signal if at least one said product having a security tag has not been deactivated by said remote scanning device. 
     
     
       15. The system for merchandise checkout according to claim  14 , further comprising means for receiving scanned and unwanted products by said purchaser and updating said remote scanning device with said computer system to reflect an adjusted price total to said purchaser. 
     
     
       16. The system for merchandise checkout according to claim  15 , further comprising means for replacing said product tag with a new product tag for said unwanted products. 
     
     
       17. The system for merchandise checkout according to claim  13 , further comprising means for generating self-adhesive bar coded labels, said bar coded labels indicative of a product code corresponding to produce wherein said self-adhesive bar coded labels are printed and dispensed after said produce is placed and weighed in produce bags and said self-adhesive bar coded labels are attached to said produce bags and scanned. 
     
     
       18. The system for merchandise checkout according to claim  17 , further comprising means for verifying that said produce bags are properly weighed, labeled and read by said remote scanning device by said purchaser. 
     
     
       19. The system for merchandise checkout according to claim  10 , further comprising: 
       means for determining an actual combined total weight of said products purchased during a purchase transaction, wherein said computer system including an actual weight of said products; and  
       means for comparing said actual combined total weight of said products with a predicted total weight determined by said computer system and means for generating a notification signal when said actual combined total weight is not within a predetermined range of said predicted total weight for a transaction.  
     
     
       20. An apparatus for use in a merchandise checkout system comprising: 
       a remote scanning device operable to read a product tag included on each of a plurality of products, said product tag including a security tag device and product identity information associated with one of said plurality of products to which said product tag is affixed;  
       said remote scanning device for scanning said product tag for each of said plurality of products;  
       said remote scanning device for reading said product information included within said product tag for said one of said plurality of products and deactivating said security tag device generally simultaneously with said reading during said scanning, said security tag device capable of being deactivated only in response to said product identity information being read; and  
       said remote scanning device for wirelessly transmitting said product identity information to a computer system.  
     
     
       21. An apparatus according to claim  20 , further comprising said remote scanning device reading said product identity information using infra-red technology to scan coded levels on said products. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus according to claim  20 , further comprising said remote scanning device having a radio frequency (RF) transceiver for sending and updating said product identity information to said computer system. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus according to claim  20 , further comprising said remote scanning device launching an electromagnetic pulse for deactivating said security measures associated with said products.